5 Good Things/5 Bad Things From Saints Week 1 Performance

The New Orleans Saints dropped their 2016 regular season opener on Sunday, falling to the Oakland Raiders, 35-34, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La.

Let's take a look at 5 positive things to take away from the loss, and then 5 negative things.

5 Good Things:

1)---Drew Brees: Brees threw for 423 yards and four touchdowns. It was the 14th time in his great career that he threw for at least 400 yards, and the 28th time he threw for at least four touchdowns. I'd prefer him not to run the option again, but Brees was fabulous on Sunday.

2)---Willie Snead: Snead caught 9 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. He caught every ball thrown his way, and then made something happen once he got it.

3)---Brandin Cooks: Cooks caught 6 passes for 143 yards, to go along with 2 touchdowns. Cooks had a 98-yard TD reception, a new franchise record.

4)---Offensive line: The Saints' offensive was completely bashed, and rightfully so, the entire preseason, but they passed the test on Sunday. No, there weren't many holes for the running backs to get through, but the big guys protected Brees well, limiting the Raiders to only one sack, while keeping Khalil Mack pretty much in check. We don't want to get too excited here, as the Saints used a quick passing attack to help the offensive line, but still, they played better than many thought they would.

5)---Kenny Vaccaro: Vaccaro totaled 7 tackles, to go along with several pass break-ups, including one on a two-point conversion attempt. I thought he was the Saints' best defensive player on Sunday.

5 Bad Things:

1)---Blowing A Big Lead: When you're up, 24-10, at home, midway through the third quarter, you have to win.

2)---The Delvin Breaux injury: Breaux left the game with the lower left leg injury, and the concern is that he has a fractured fibula. If that is accurate, that's the most devastating injury to the Saints yet.

3)---Pass Rush: The Saints pressured Derek Carr at times, but didn't collect a sack, and gave him too much time to throw.

4)---The Option Play: 4th quarter; the Saints have the football with a 3rd and 6 to go at the Raiders' 6-yard line. So, they run an option?!?!? Please, don't do that again!

5)---Coby Fleener: This is probably unfair to him. The Saints were down to one tight end in the game, and he'll rebound, but the bottom line is that the Saints' biggest offseason acquisition was limited to only one catch for 6 yards.